Ice by V. C. Andrews Read Free Book Online Page A

if another man tells you about him, you got to color in green for jealousy. There's only one person who can tell you what you got to know about a man and that's you."
She smiled,
"Maybe I oughta be writing a newspaper column of advice for lovers. huh?"
I widened my eyes and she laughed.
Nothing I could recall in our recent history made Mama so young, bright and happy as my impending date. I was afraid to utter one negative comment or iota of hesitation.
Before Daddy left for work, he stopped by and just stood in my doorway.
"I hope you have a good time," he said. "but if for any reason you're not happy out there, you don't hesitate to demand to be taken home. Ice. You make it clear and sharp, just like the orders he's growing used to in the army. Men need to be made straight right off. That's all I'll say," he added. and that you're looking mighty pretty."
"Thank you. Daddy.'
He nodded, kissed me quickly on the cheek and left.
Mama came rushing in immediately afterward.
"What that man say to you. Ice? He say anything to make you afraid?"
"No Mama. He just wished me a good time."
"Umm," she said still full of suspicion.
I looked at the clock.
"Getting about that time," she said. I really did feel like someone preparing for an opening, a big performance. "You dress in my room, use my table and stuff." she told me.
She hovered over me, making sure I put on the makeup she wanted as she wanted it, fixing every strand of my hair and then fussing over my new outfit. When I was completely dressed and ready, she surprised me by bringing out her camera and taking a picture.
"I want one of you and Shawn, too," she said. "Oh Mama, it's going to embarrass him."
"Nonsense. Any man would want his picture taken with you. Ice," she said.
I wondered if she was right. Was I really as pretty as she was, and was it only because of my reputation of not talking very much that boys avoided pursuing me?
Exactly at seven, the door buzzer rang. I thought it stopped my heart. Then I heard the pounding in my tars. I tried to swallow, but couldn't.
Mama had gotten herself pretty dolled up, too, putting on her V- necked red dress and her pumps. She strutted from her room, glanced at me waiting in the living room, smiled and went to the door.
"Evening, ma'am." I heard a deep, strong voice say. "I'm Shawn Carter. Louella's brother,"
"Aren't you though?" Mama said. "And look how handsome in your uniform."
"Thank you. ma'am."
"Come right in. Ice is waiting for you in the living room, Shawn.."
I felt my whole body tighten, my ribs feeling as if they were closing like claws around my insides. Mama came in first and then stepped aside to let Shawn enter. He stood there with his hat in his hand, gaping at me. For a moment neither of us spoke. I gulped a view of him and digested it.
He was about my height with broad shoulders, almost as broad as Daddy's, but he was nowhere nearly as handsome. He looked almost bald because of how closely his hair had been cropped and how far up his forehead his hairline sat. The close haircut emphasized his large ears. All of his features were big except for his eves, which were small, beady ebony marbles. His lower lip was a little thicker than his upper and his jawbone was emphatic. His smile softened his initial appearance. however. It made him look younger.
"Hi," he said.
I was far from stuck-up, but a little voice inside me whispered: "No wonder he was so excited about taking you out. girl. You're probably the prettiest girl he's ever been able to date. Without the army uniform, he would be so ordinary you wouldn't give him a second look and maybe not even a first." Mama didn't really think he was so handsome. I concluded, unless she was bedazzled by a uniform. However. I was the first to agree that a book shouldn't be judged on its cover. It took time to learn if someone was truly handsome or beautiful inside.
Mama looked at me, her head bobbing, urging me to speak. "Hi," I said.
"You look very, very pretty," he said. "Much